If the thought of contributing to the approximately 20 billion disposable menstrual products being dumped in landfills annually makes you queasy, we have good news. Menstrual cups are becoming more and more popular as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional sanitary products.
Read on to learn what is a menstrual cup and five things you need to know about menstrual cups before making the switch!
What Is a Menstrual Cup?
A menstrual cup is a reusable, bell-shaped silicone device inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Instead of absorbing blood like tampons or pads, it catches blood.
There are many different brands available on the market with various features (size, shape, colors). Take this menstrual cup quiz to find the right one for you!
1. Menstrual Cups Are Easy To Use
Wondering how to use a menstrual cup? It’s relatively easy, especially if you’re used to wearing tampons.
- Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands
- In one hand, hold the cup with the rim facing up and fold it tightly in half
- Insert the cup with the rim facing up, similar to how you would insert a tampon
- After placing the menstrual cup in your vagina, rotate it until you feel it spring open, creating an airtight seal
The Flex menstrual cup has a loop at the stem, making removal easy. Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time without any discomfort or irritation for most people. If you have a heavy flow, you might have to empty and wash it more frequently.
2. Menstrual Cups Are Easy to Clean
This brings us to how to clean a menstrual cup. For a quick clean, wash it with clean water and a mild soap that is oil-free and fragrance-free.
Between menstrual cycles, boil your menstrual cup for 20 minutes. Doing this keeps your menstrual fresh and clean and prevents the growth of bacteria.
3. Menstrual Cups Are Budget and Eco-Friendly
Menstrual cups are reusable, have no negative effect on the environment (like tampons), and can be reused for up to 12 hours at a time. That means that each menstrual cup saves women around $300 per year in sanitary products!
4. Menstrual Cups Hold More Blood
The best menstrual cup can hold about one to two ounces of menstrual blood, or 30ml. A woman typically produces 30-40 ml of blood per cycle. A tampons can only hold about 9.45 ml of blood, or a third of an ounce.
Menstrual cups are a fantastic option if you have a heavy flow. Imagine a life where you didn’t have to run off to the bathroom every hour or so just to change your tampon or pad!
5. Menstrual Cups Are Safer
The menstrual cup is made of medical-grade silicone that won’t leach chemicals or dye into your vaginal canal. Compared to tampons, it also doesn’t go up as far in the vagina, which decreases the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
Menstrual cups also don’t dry out the vagina the way tampons do. A dry vagina leads to vaginal infections and irritation. A menstrual cup helps preserve your vagina’s healthy bacteria and flora.
Menstrual Cups: The Eco-Friendly Choice
Menstrual cups are an eco-friendly alternative to tampons and pads, but they’re also a lifestyle change. If you want to make the switch from sanitary products with all of their waste into something reusable that can last for years (depending on how often you use it), we hope you found this blog post helpful. If you like this post, be sure to check out our blog for more!
